Asked to Bring Snacks to a Party

My 10-year-old daughter has received two separate birthday-party invitations asking her to bring either a large bottle of soda pop or a bag of chips. When did it become acceptable to have the guests bring the snacks?

It didn't. An invitation to a party means you will be welcomed as a guest to a celebration given by your host. There are two exceptions: One is a potluck get-together, when it's clear from the outset that the event is BYO. Another is when a guest asks, "What can I bring?" In today's time-pressed world, it's certainly not unusual for people to offer to pitch in with some food or drink. There's a big difference, though, between offering and being made to offer.